Egg grading machine comprising pneumatic lifting means supported by scale balance arms



Aug. 12, 1952 c POWELL 2,606,658

EGG GRADING MACHINE COMPRISING PNEUMATIC LIFTING MEANS SUPPORTED BY SCALE BALANCE ARMS Filed March 24, 1949 5 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR. g l 6/94/1255 Pan [14 Aug. 12, 1952 c POWELL 2,606,658

EGG GRADING MACHINE COMPRISING PNEUMATIC LIFTING MEANS SUPPORTED BY SCALE BALANCE ARMS Filed March 24, 1949 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 ilzl. 3--

' INVENTOR. 66 4/6455 K Pan 41.

BY WWK QM Aug. 12, 1952 c POWELL 2,606,658

EGG GRADING MACHINE COMPRISING PNEUMATIC LIFTING MEANS SUPPORTED BY SCALE BALANCE ARMS Filed March 24, 1949 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTOR. CHOP! 55 K Pan 44 W WQQ M F A & l

5 Sheets-Sheet 4 IN V EN TOR.

a M K w W w g- 12, 1952 c. K. POWELL EGG GRADING MACHINE COMPRISING PNEUMATIC LIFTING MEANS SUPPORTED BY SCALE BALANCE ARM Filed March 24, 1949 Q Q w k o s QR kmw Aug. 12, 1952 Q POWELL 2,606,658

EGG GRADING MACHINE COMPRISING PNEUMATIC LIFTING MEANS SUPPORTED BY SCALE BALANCE ARMS Filed March 24, 1949 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 INVENTOR CHARLES K. Poweu BY (A W W t/249M,

ATTORNEYS Patented Aug. 12, 1952 OFFICE- EGG GRADING MACHINE COMPRISING PNEUMATIC LIFTING MEANS SUP- PORTED BY SCALE BALANCE ARMS- Charles K. Powell, Washington, D. 0., assignor to Chestnut Farms-Chevy Chase Dairy Company, Washington, D. 0., a corporation of Delaware Application March 24, 1949., Serial No. 83,.2'1'9 4.- Claims. (Cl. 209-121).

The present invention relates to an improved eg grading machine for automatically classifying eggs by weight. It relates also to a novel weighing assembly and to an improved mechanism for loading said weighing assembly with eggs.

The machine of this invention includes (1) a feed section, (2) a weighing section and (3) a delivery section.

The feed section, which is designed to feed eggs in seriatimto the weighing section, comprises one or more channel members for advancing the eggs, in a predetermined, aligned position, toward the weighing section and a loading member to pick the'eggs up individually and cooperate in loading the'eggsonto the weighing'elements. v In the preferred embodiment, the loading member is a rotatable-wheel having a pair of spaced disks anda 'pluralitypf longitudinal, resilient members defining a plurality of pockets and spaced between the disks.

The weighing section comprises a turntable supporting a plurality of weighing assemblies, each of which includes a scale member which in turn supports an element for pneumaticallyliiting an egg from the loading member. Inthe preferred embodiment of the invention thelifting element is inthe form-of an inverted cup member connected to a source of sub-atmospheric pressure and the scale member is in the form of a balance arm having an outer end for supporting the cup member. Cam actuated means are provided'to bring the cup members successively and individually into positive engagement with eggs on the loading member. As the turntable turns upon its axis, after a given weighing assembly has liited'an egg oil the loading member, said weighing assemblyassumes a position of equilibrium depending upon the weight of the egg picked up. Upon arrival over the delivery section or the machine,-the weighing assembly engages one of several electrical contacts, the particular contact engaged depending upon the equilibrium position assumed by the loaded weighing mechanism, and consequently, upon the weight of theegg. As soon as such contact is made, the egg is released from the cup member to bedeposited in the'de'livery section of the machine. 7

" The delivery section comprises a plurality of tracks to receive the eggs released from the weighing mechanisms, one track being disposed beneath each of the egg" releasing positions as determined by the disposition of the several electrical contact elements, so=that eggs of different weights are classified-according to'weight.' The for removing the eggs from beneath the releasing positions so that one egg will not be dropped upon another.

The machine of this invention has a number of important advantages over machines known to have been proposed heretofore for accomplishing similar results. One such advantage is its relative simplicity of construction. Another is the positive means by which the eggs are loaded individually onto the weighing mechanism without subjecting the eggs to undue pressure. Still another advantage resides in the flexibility of the machine with reference to the number of diiierent grades or weights of eg s that can be classified. A further advantage resides in the speed with which the machine can be operated to automatically and accurately classify eggs by weight.

A single machine, constructed in. accordance with the preferred embodiment particularly described herein, has been operated successfully to classify eggs into five different weights at speeds up to 24; cases per hour. 1

These an'd'other advantages, as well as the utility of the invention, will become more apparent from'the following detailed description of one preferred embodiment illustrated by way of example only in the accompanying drawing whereini I Figure 1 is a view in elevation of said preferred embodiment of the machine;

Figure 2 is a plan view of the machine illustrated in Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a detailed view, in elevation, taken along section line 33 of Figure 2;

Figure 4 is a schematic plan view in section taken along section line 4-43 of Figure 1;

Figure 5 is a detailed view in elevation taken along section line 55 of Figure 4;

Figure 6 is a schematic view taken along section line 6-6 of Figure 2; and

Figure '7 illustrates the electrical circuit in the weighing section. 1

The various sections of the machine referred to previously will now each be described, together with driving mechanism for these sections, and the operation of the machine.

The ,f-eed section v The-feed section, illustrated to best advantage in Figures '1, 2 and 4, generally includes a first channel member Iii, a second channel member II and a loading wheel [2. The first channel member H] is pivotally supported at the rearward end by a support member l4 fastened to the base of a journal member I5 mounted on a longitudinal frame member I6. The forward end of the second channel member I I is pivotally supported at I1 by upright I9. The forward end of the first channel member I and the adjoining end of the second channel member II are pivotally joined together by means of a pair of pins 29 and are supported by the hub 2| of pulley 22 which is provided with two set screws 23 protruding from its periphery to give the adjoining ends of channel members I0 and I I an intermittent, upwardly jarring motion.

The pulley 22, and a similar pulley 2,4, are fixed to a shaft 26 supported on journals 21 and 29 mounted on longitudinal frame members I6 and 30 respectively for driving a pair of spaced and parallel A belts 3I passing over a pair of idler pulleys 32 to move the belts forwardly in the channel member I0.

A third belt34 is provided to move rearwardly in the bottom of the second channel member II. This belt 34 is driven by pulley 36 and is trained around idler pulleys 3 1, 39, and 40, pulley 40 being mounted loosely on the shaft 26 between pulleys 22 and 24 and pulley 31 being supported for rotation by an adjustable upright H to permit proper tensioning of the belt 34.

The loading wheel I2, illustrated in-detail in Figure 5, is supported for rotation on a shaft 42 and comprises a pair of spaced disk members 43 having a plurality of longitudinal inner and outer resilient members such as coil springs 44 and 46 defining a plurality of pockets 41 between the disk members 43 0f the wheel. In the preferred embodiment, as illustrated in Figures 4 and 5, the outer resilient members 46 are somewhat stiffer than the inner members 44 inasmuch as the outer members 46 are designed to position the eggs and the inner members 44 are designed to support the eggs in the pockets 41.

The weighing section The weighing section, shown in Figures 1, 2 and 6, comprises a turntable 50having a plurality of holes andsupportinga plurality of egg weighing assemblies. The table 50 is mounted for rotation on a shaft 52. Each egg Weighing assembly, only two of which, for convenience of illustration, are shown in Figure 6, includes a balance arm 54 provided with one or more counterweights 56, 51 and 59 which may, ifdesired, be adjustable, a standard 60 mounted on the table 50 to provide a fulcrum at 6| for the balance arm, an inverted suction cup 62 supported by the outer end 64 of the balance arm, a solenoid operated air valve 66 and a lever 61 having a forked end 69 operated periodically by engagement of a cam surface on its other end with a roller 1I supported by a bracket 1Ia secured to the frame.

The inner end 12 of the balance arm 54 is further provided with a contact plate 14 and the standard 60 supporting the balance arm is preferably provided with a threaded member 16 having an eccentric head 11 for limiting the downward motion of the outer end 64 of the balance arm due to the weight of an extraordinarily heavy egg supported by the suction cup '62.

A stationary conduit 19, connected to a source of subatmospheric pressure, is connected to a rotatable coupling 80 attached, by means of flanges 8| and 82, to the shaft 52 for supporting androtatingthe turntable 50. The coupling 80 is tapped at 84 for connecting the source of submeans of a flexible conduit or hose 85 suspended by means of straps 86 or the like from the outer end 64 of balance arm 54. A second flexible conduit or hose 81 connects the suction cup 62 with the solenoid operated air valve 66 having an air intake port 89 and an outlet port 99. A resilient spacer 9|, an overlying disk 92 of relatively stiff material, and a centering cone 94 are preferably provided above cup 62 and around conduits 85 and. 81.

A platform96 is secured to the stationary conduit 19 to support a plurality of stationary electrical contact elements 91, 99, I00, HH and I02. Said contact elements are positioned at progressively lower elevations relative to the table and define, with the weighing assemblies, a number of egg releasing positions indicated, in Figure 2, by the reference characters A, B, C, D and E applied to five balance arms 54, the contact plates 14 of which are momentarily in line with contact elements 91, 99, I00, IOI and I02, respectively.

As shown in Figure 7, one terminal of each solenoid 66' for operating an air valve 66 is connected to a source of power through a, slip ring I revolving with table 50, shown in phantom in Figure '1, a brush I 8| and transformer I82, to a source of electrical energy. The other terminal of each solenoid 66 is connected to respective contact plate 14 on the inner end 12 of the balance arm 54. The contact elements 91, 99, I00, IIlI and I02 are grounded, preferably to the frame of the machine.

The delivery section The driving mechanism and frame I The power required to operate the machine may be obtained from any suitable source such as an electric motor I20 mounted on a lower portion of the frame I2 I. Power is transmitted from the motor I20 to a vertical shaft I22 by way of a gear box I24, the shaft I22 having fixed thereto two pulleys I26 and I21. The lower pulley I26 is connected to a pulley I29 on a vertical idler shaft I30 by means of a belt I3I and the shaft 52 of the turntable 50 is driven by means of a belt I32 connecting pulleys I34 and I36 on shafts I30 and 52, respectively. The shaft 52 for the rotatable table 50 is further provided with bevel gear I31 mating with a second bevel gear I39 on the inner end of shaft 42 for the loading wheel I2. This shaft 42, which is journalled in bearings I40 and MI mounted on frame members I42 and I44, is in turn :provided with a pulley I46 connected by means of belt I41 to a pulley I49 on the shaft 26 to drive the belts 3I in the first feed channel member I0. Athird pulley I50 on the idler shaft I 30 is connected by means of a belt I5I to a pulley I52 mounted on the shaft I54 to drive the pulley 36 which drives the belt 34 movable rearwardly in the second channel member II. i H The second pulley I21 on the vertical shaft I22 is connected to a pulley I55 on the shaft II8 of the delivery tray by a belt I29 to drive pulleys H6 and thereby advance belts I I2 along the tracks'I04, I06, I01, I09 and H0. I

The frame structure-maybe constructed in any suitable manner ascan'readily be determined by aeoaees those skilled in the. art.. Thus, for example, the electric motor I20 .and gearbox I24 is supported on a shelf I55 mounted on uprights I'5I, shaft E35 is journalled in bearings I62 secured to horizontal frame members I65 mounted on two of the uprights ISI, shaft is journalled in bearings I56 secured to lateral frame members I 51, and shaft I551is journalled in bearings I69 supported on bent frame members W5. A shelf I l I, having a rimmed edge I I2, is provided below the level of turntable 55 to catch any eggs dropped prematurely or not lifted from the loading wheel I2. A pairof support members ll-'l fixed to uprights EEI supports theshaft I I8 which in turn supports rails H5 between each pair of carrier belts H2.

Operation In operation a plurality of eggs placed in or otherwise conducted'to the first channel member I5 are advanced toward the loading wheel I2 by the pair of spaced belts 3|, the power for driving said belts being transmitted from the motor I20 by way of gear box I24, shaft I22,

pulley I25, belt ItI, pulley I29, idler shaft I35, pulley I32,'belt I32, pulley I36, turntable shaft 52, bevel gears Hill and 139, shaft 52, pulleys M5, belt M'Lpu-lley I lsfshaft and pulleys 22 and 24. Any eggs in the forward end of channel member Ill Whose long axes are not already disposed transversely of the channel are moved into that position by the combined action in channel member II, of (1) the eggs advancing from channel member I5, (2) the intermittent raising and lowering of the adjoining ends of channel members I!) and II, and (3) the rearwardly moving belt '34 passing over idler pulleys 31, and 42 and driven by driving pulley 35 on shaft I55, which in turn is driven by means of a belt I5I connecting pulley I55 on idler shaft ltd-and pulley I52 on shaft I54. The intermittent jarring movement of the forward end of channel member II] and the adjoining end of channel member I I is due to the camming action of one or more set screws 23 protruding from the'hub 2I of the pulley 22 against the bottom of one or both of said channel members.

The eggs are picked up individually from the forward end of the channel member II by the loading wheel I2 which is rotated in a counterclockwise direction as seen in Figure 1. A given egg rolls into a pocket 41 of the loading wheel as defined by resilient members 44 and 46 and is carried upwardly and forwardly in said pocket by the rotation of the loading wheel, the loading wheel being turned in timed relation with the turntable 50 due to the bevel gear connection i3! and I 39 between shaft 52 for the turntable and shaft 42 for the loading wheel.

At approximately the moment an egg, supported in the loading wheel I2, reaches a position directly over the shaft 42, one of the sucher '9 2.

pressure in the cup '52v due to its connection, by

way of hose 85 and coupling 80, to the conduit I9 representing a source of sub-atmospheric pressure.

As the turntable continues to turn on its shaft 52, the loaded weighing assembly assumes a position of equilibrium, said position being determined by the weight .of the egg with which it is loaded. Thuafor example, a relatively light l'egg will cause the balance arm 54 to assume a position of equilibrium such that the contact plate M at the inner end will be relatively low. A heavier egg will cau's'eit to assume a position at which the contact plate 14 will be higher. An oversized egg may be heavy enough to cause engagement of the balance arm 54 with the eccentric head TI andthus result in a maximum elevation of the contact plate It. When the turntable 55 hasmade approximately a half turn, the contact plate 14 on the inner end 12 of the balance arm 54 makes contact with one of the plurality of stationary electric contact elements 2 e1, 99,- I55, I5I and IE2, which are arranged at tion cups 62 supported by the turntable 55 will be positioned directly over the egg and the cam surface It at the inner end of the lever 61 will have become engaged by the roller II to depress the forked end 69 of the lever to thereby move the suction cup 52 into positive engagement with the egg. Crushing of the egg is avoided without sacrificing positive engagement thereof by the suction cup due to the resilience of the inner resilient members at of the loading wheel I2 and uniform application of the force applied to the suction cup by the forked end 69 of the lever 61 is assured by the relatively stiff disk mem to the elevation of contactelement I00. the turntable has turned sufiiciently to bring the contact is made, the solenoid 56' operates air valveliii to openthe line 81, connected to the suction cup 62, to the atmosphere by way of valve ports 89 and 55. The resultant increase in pressure within the suction cup 62 causes the egg to be released and dropped uponone of the several pairs of endless belts II2 moving forwardly in tracks HM, I55, I57, I59 and III) of the-delivery section.

Thu's,*for example, if the egg is very light and the contact plate-M is therefore at a low elevation,=the contact plate will make contact with the lowermost-contact element I52 to release the egg over track I I5. A medium-size egg will have weight sufficient to elevate the contact plate 14 When oontact plate and element into contact, the egg will be released over track I51. When contact plate '55 is raised to the maximum elevation, due to the weight of a heavy egg carried by the suction cup 52, it makes cont-act with the first and highest contact element 9! torelease the egg over track I54.

The belts I I2, which are supported by pulleys Il and IIS mounted on shafts II! and H8, receive their power from motor I20 by way of gear box I24, shaft I22, pulley I2'I, belt I28 and shaft H8, and operate to advance the eggs for further processing such as candling, packing or the like.

As soon as the egg has been released from the suction cup 62, the counterweights 56, 51 and 59, on the balance arm 54 raise the suction cup and the centering cone 94 enters the hole 5| adjacent the periphery of the turntable 5D to center the suction cup relative to said hole 5I and thereby places in the proper position for engagement with another egg when it reaches a point over loading wheel I2.

It is to be understood that numerous modifications and alterations will occur to those skilled in the art upon .reading this description. All such modifications and alterations are intended to be included within the scope of this invention as defined in the appended claims.

What Iclaimis:

1..In a machine for classifying eggsby weight which includes. a feed section, a weighing section, and a delivery section, a weighing section comprising a turntable, a plurality of stationary electrical contact elements, said elements being positioned at different elevations relative to the table, a plurality of egg weighing assemblies supported by the. turntable, each assembly comprising a balance arm having anouter end extending substantially to the periphery of the table-and an'inner end carrying a contact member selectively-engageable at one of several egg releasing positions with one of the electrical contact elements, means for pivotally supporting the balance arm, a resilient; inverted cup member connected to a source of sub-atmospheric pressure and supported by the outer end of the balance arm for carrying an egg from the feed section to-the delivery section, cam actuated means for bringing the cup member into engagement with an egg presented for delivery by the feed section to lift the-egg therefrom, and means for momentarily increasing the pressure within the cup member to release the egg when the contact member engages one of the electrical contact elements.

2. In a machine for classifying eggs by weight, the improvement which comprises an egg weighing assemblysupported by a turntable, said assembly comprising a balance arm having an outer end extendingsubstantially to the periphery of the table and-an inner end carrying a contact member selectively engageable at one of several egg releasing positions with one of several electrical contact elements, means for pivotally supporting the balance arm, a resilient, inverted cup member connected to a source of sub-atmospheric pressure and supported by the outer: end of the balance arm for carrying an egg from an egg feeding mechanismto a delivery section, cam actuated means for bringing the cup member into engagement with an egg on the feeding mechanism to lift the egg therefrom, and means for momentarily increasing the pressure within the cup member to release the egg to a delivery zone when the contact member selectively engages one of said several electrical contact elements.

3. In a machine for classifying eggs by weight which includes a feed section, a weighing section, and a delivery section, a weighing section comprising a turntable, a plurality of stationary control elements positioned at different elevations relative to the table, a plurality of egg weighing assemblies supported by the turntable, each as sembly comprising a balance arm having an outer end extending substantially to the periphery of the table, each arm carrying an actuating member selectively engageable at one of several egg releasing positions with one of the control elements, means for pivotally supporting the balance arm, a resilient, inverted cup member connected to a source of sub-atmospheric pressure, supported by the outer end of the balance arm and suspended from above for carrying an egg from the feed section to the delivery section, cam actuated means for bringing the cup member into engagement with an egg presented for delivery by the feed section to lift the egg therefrom by suction, and means for momentarily increasing the pressure within the cup member to release the egg when the actuating member engages one of the control elements.

4. In a machine for classifying eggs by weight, the improvement which comprises an egg Weighing assembly supported by a turntable, said assembly comprising a balance arm having an outer end extending substantially to the periphery of the table and carrying an actuating member selectively engageable at one of several egg releasing positions with one of several control elements, means for pivotally supporting the balance arm, a resilient, inverted cup member connected to a source of sub-atmospheric pressure, supported by the outer end of the balance arm and suspended from above for carrying an egg from an egg feeding mechanism to a delivery section, cam actuated means for bringing the cup member into engagement with an egg on the feeding mechanism to lift the egg therefrom by suction, and means for momentarily increasing the pressure within the cup member to release the egg to a delivery zone when the actuating member selectively engages one of said several control elements.

CHARLES K. POVIELL.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in-the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date Re.15,218 Price Nov. 1, 1921 1,934,031 Purdy Dec. 11, 1934 2,138,475 Hilton Nov. 29, 1938 2,217,983 Hopkins Oct. 15, 1940 2,296,645 Marsden Sept. 22, 1942 2,406,311 Ashlock Aug. 27, 1946 2,436,534 Tolley Feb. 24, 1948 2,451,836 Jordan Oct. 19, 1948 2,471,479 Coons May 31, 1949 

